LIMERICK trainer Eric McNamara is eagerly looking forward to the upcoming 2019 Listowel Festival. The popular Rathkeale handler regularly targets the seven-day harvest extravaganza, but this year there’s an extra pep in his step as he puts the finishing touches to yet another formidable team.

The North Kerry venue has proven a happy hunting ground in the past for the former International show jumper, with three victories in the Kerry National included in his impressive haul at the track. McNamara is a hard grafter who, like so many of his trainer comrades, has had to go to the buckle-end to survive in an occupation he loves.

From a high of 60 horses during the Celtic Tiger, down to single figures during the recession, McNamara has come out the other end and is now hoping the worst may be over.

“It’s was very, very tough during the recession, there is no doubt about that,” he said. “Only the other day, my kids were asking me how we managed to hang on and all I said was I just don’t know! Thankfully, our numbers are back up to 30 now and it’s an ambition of mine to be training 50 horses in the not-too-distant future.

“I think any trainer needs a figure like that to make it feasible. We have all the facilities we need here under our hand including a sand gallop, a grass gallop, two walkers and two schooling strips, so we have as good a set-up as there is. I have four full-time people riding out and my two daughters, Kate and Erica, are here working with the horses too. There’s a noticeable uptake in the number of syndicates getting back involved which is encouraging and I firmly believe the outlook is good.”

Eric McNamara pictured with daughter Kate and son Conor \ Healy Racing

Sons flying the flag

Mention of family and McNamara’s thoughts quickly turn to his sons, Conor and Emmet, who are both busy carving out successful careers for themselves as jockeys.

“Emmet is working in Ballydoyle and has ridden a couple group winners for Aidan O’Brien. He absolutely loves his job there and from a very early age he was always enthralled with flat racing. He has zero interest in the jumping side of the game.

“Conor is also doing well for himself. He spends four days a week with Gavin Cromwell and two with Willie Mullins, so, like Emmet, he learning from the very best. He’s fantastic value for his 7lb claim. He rode his first winner for me aboard Offshore Oscar just over 12 months ago and has gone from strength to strength in a short space of time.”

Trainer Eric McNamara Issues instructions to his sons Emmett (left) and Conor (Right) \ Healy Racing

Improving the sport

While very busy with his training duties, McNamara still finds time to regularly attend meetings of the Irish Racehorse Trainers’ Association, where he feels good progress is being made in a bid to reenergize the sport.

“I go to IRTA meetings every six weeks and I believe things are happening there to benefit everybody. We liaise closely with the HRI and the Turf Club and, in fairness they are great people to work with. The auction maiden hurdles have been a huge success and fair play to Connolly’s Red Mills and the Irish EBF for their support.

“We are also trying to promote lower grade handicaps, while the races for jockeys that have only ridden 10 or 15 winners are providing great opportunities too. There is no point in the same five or six jockeys winning everything. We have a good bit done, but there is lots more we’d like to achieve.”

This time of the year though is all about one place for McNamara and he makes no secret of his affinity with the unique Kingdom venue.

“I love Listowel. There’s nothing like the craic and the atmosphere there. We’d have a good few owners from Kerry and it’s just a special week of the year for us. I suppose it’s like Galway in the west of Ireland, in that lots of people take their holidays to coincide with the week and you’d see people in Listowel you might not see racing again for the rest of the year.

“I’d be happy with the horses we’ve lined-up for this year. We have three in the Kerry National and two of them will definitely run. Black Scorpion won a competitive two-and-a-half-mile chase over the course 12 months ago and we’ve had the big race in mind for him since then. He was third over a shorter trip at Killarney last month and that should leave him spot-on for next week’s contest. Internal Transfer has won his last two starts and is an improving sort. He’ll run a big race in it to. They both have equal chances in it, in my opinion.”

Prepared to peak

McNamara mentions a few other names punters would be well advised to run the rule over too when it comes to making their final selections.

“Owl Creek Bridge is a nice horse. He hasn’t run since winning at Limerick last Christmas, but is in good order and will go well whatever race he goes for. Silver Planeur won at the meeting two years ago and ran a fine race when third at Ballinrobe recently.

Owl Creek Bridge and Conor McNamara won the Parkway Shopping Centre Handicap Hurdle in Limerick last December \ Healy Racing

“She seems to be coming back to form at just the right time and will be competitive. Celtic Dancer is owned by a few lads from Kerry and will run in the two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle on Tuesday. I expect we’ll have 10 or more runners over the week and I’d be very happy to have one winner, anymore would be a bonus. Of course if that one was the big race, it would be extra special!”

Given his undoubted prowess in preparing horses to peak at past Listowel fixtures, McNamara will be very difficult to keep out of the winner’s enclosure at next week’s renewal.